“Gorgeously inviting illustrations and a joyful theme…the consummate first day read.” —Shelf Awareness (starred review) A heartwarming picture book following a group of boys from different backgrounds throughout the school year as they become the best of friends. Musa’s feeling nervous about his first day of school. He’s not used to being away from home and he doesn’t know any of the other kids in his class. And when he meets classmates Moisés, Mo, and Kevin, Musa isn’t sure they’ll have much in common. But over the course of the year, the four boys learn more about each other, the holidays they celebrate, their favorite foods, and what they like about school. The more they share with each other, the closer they become, until Musa can’t imagine any better friends. In this charming story of friendship and celebrating differences, young readers can discover how entering a new friendship with an open mind and sharing parts of yourself brings people together. And the calendar of holidays at the end of the book will delight children as they identify special events they can celebrate with friends throughout the year.

This book anchors the social studies as the central unifying force for young children. Teachers use the inquiry process to foster child development of social skills and citizenship ideals in their first classroom experiences. Curriculum is built starting with children’s natural curiosity to foster literacy in all its form—speaking, listening, reading, writing. Along the way, young children acquire knowledge and academic skills in civics, economics, geography and history. Shown throughout are ways to promote social learning, self-concept development, social skills and citizenship behaviors. Featured here are individually appropriate and culturally relevant developmental practices. Considered are the importance of family collaboration and funds of knowledge children bring to early care and education. Contributors to this edition bring expertise from bilingual, early education, literacy, special education and the social studies. Beginning with citizenship and community building the authors consider all aspects of teaching young children leading to a progression of capacity to engage civically in school and community.

Spark meaningful conversations about race, identity, and social justice in your classroom using read alouds as an entry point. Students need to see themselves and their peers in the books they read, and to engage with varying viewpoints. How can educators create a safe and nurturing space that inspires young children to explore diversity and ask curious questions? In Rebellious Read Alouds, author Vera Ahiyya—beloved by educators worldwide as The Tutu Teacher (@thetututeacher and @diversereads on Instagram)—empowers teachers to encourage classroom conversations about important and culturally relevant topics using daily read alouds as an entry point. Presenting a broad range of read aloud lessons around current, diverse picture books that can ignite deep conversations and learning about self, others, and the world, this wise and joyful guide prepares educators to tackle "hushed topics" with young children. It includes: Booklists, tools, and recommendations for building an inclusive classroom library of titles written or illustrated by people in traditionally marginalized populations Tips and resources for facilitating diversity conversations in a way that’s developmentally appropriate — and meets ELA and social justice standards 45 complete lessons plans around children’s books, with prompts and recommended stopping points for conversation, and suggestions for inspiring discussion and scaffolding deep thinking Interviews with educators and parents who offer advice from their experience doing rebellious read alouds Suggestions for partnering with administration, parents, and colleagues on this important work Spark the rebellious reader inside you and lead your students toward creating a more just and equitable world.

A recipe for disaster: take one total solar eclipse, add two dozen spine-chilling mysteries, and shake the reader until the world ends in Day of the Dark! INTRODUCTION, by Kaye George DARK SIDE OF THE LIGHT, by Carol L. Wright CHASING THE MOON, by Leslie Wheeler THE PATH OF TOTALITY, by Katherine Tomlinson BLOOD MOON, by Paul D. Marks TORGNYR THE BASTARD, by Suzanne Berube Rorhus AN ECLIPSE OF HEARTS, by Dee McKinney THE BAKERS BOY, by Nupur Tustin BLACK MONDAY, by Chri Vaus ILL BE A SUNBEAM, by M.K. Waller OCEANS FIFTY, by Laura Oles THE DEVILS STANDTABLE, by Melissa H. Blaine DATE NIGHT, by Cari Dubiel AWAITING THE HOUR, by Joseph S. Walker A GOLDEN ECLIPSE, by Debra H. Goldstein PICTURE PERFECT, by LD Masterson THE DARKEST HOUR, by Kaye George BABY KILLER, by Margaret S. Hamilton FLYING GIRL, by Toni Goodyear TO THE MOON AND BACK, by Kristin Kisska RAYS OF HOPE, by Harriette Sackler WOMENS WORK, by KB Inglee OPEN HOUSE, by Bridges DelPonte RELATIVELY ANNOYING, by John Clark ASCENSION INTO DARKNESS, by Christine Hammar

If you want to be encouraged; this book is for you! Kathy Slamp blends her unique story-telling ability with her keen insight of the Scriptures to create an honest and vulnerable sharing of life experiences. Each of the 12 chapters is told with her down-to-earth style, and each chapter has a specific message that is relevant in today's complicated world. You'll laugh at the Smithsonian Chair, and the Hooterville Express, and you'll cry at the messages Kathy captures from them! You'll love this pick-me-up book.

What do famous people love to do during their free time in Los Angeles? Angelenos and other notables have their rituals that connect them to the city in a unique way: favorite restaurants, museums, beaches, parks, markets, landmarks, haunts, and hideaways. The activities are as diverse and eclectic as the city itself. My City, My Los Angeles gives readers something truly unique––a chance to experience L.A. the way the city’s most notable luminaries do.

Discipline problems, self-doubt, tense meetings, classroom stress . . . Couldn’t every teacher use some saintly help? Every teacher can think of at least one mentor who has served as an inspiration over the years. However, many teachers—even those with a Catholic faith—might not have considered that saints can serve as mentors. Author and teacher Susan H. Swetnam believes that saints aren’t only good teachers—they’re the best teachers. In My Best Teachers Were Saints, Swetnam focuses on fifty-two saints—many of them teachers—who faced challenges similar to those that nearly all educators face today, from indifferent students and recalcitrant colleagues to their own limitations and feelings of isolation. With the examples of saints such as Augustine, Ignatius of Loyola, and Scholastica, Swetnam eagerly shares how their words and deeds helped immensely in her own career as a teacher and how they can aid and inspire other educators as well. Anyone involved in education—whether teaching religion or mathematics, kindergartners or graduate students—will discover within these pages a treasure trove of saintly help that is sure to prove that the best teachers are in fact saints!